METHODS OF THE HUNS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16980, 17 April 1917, Page 7

METHODS OF THE HUNS

AUSTRALIA A FAIR PREY.

WILY SCKEiIES FRUSTRATED.

The extent to which attempts were made before tho war to increase Gorman iniluericc in Australia, and to obtain knowledge of Australian conditions which might at a future date be used to advautago to promote German settlement, can scarcely bo realised (states the Melbourne Argus of March 31). Information that has como into the possession of tho Australian authorities throws light upon the methods adopted to piatto the Gorman Government in possession of the most minute particulars about the adaptability of Western Australia for German, settlement, and the information further indicates that even sinco tho war broke out the Germans have not relaxed their propaganda efforts. On the contrary, every opportunity has been seized to get into tho closest touch with the Germans resident in Australia, and even with those interned m the segregation camps. But wdy as wero the methods employed by tho German authorities to placo themselves in communication with their interned compatriots, tho vigilance of tho Australian authorities has been such that their schemes were one-after tho other unmasked. Commencing with what happened just bef or° the- war, a detailed report from ono ol tho German missionaries on tho northwest coast of Western Australia to a society in Germany called "Tho Society for the 1 rotection of Germans Abroad," was intercepted. Iho report consists of answers to interrogatories, and is headed "Strictly confidential." Tho first -questions asked related to tho country, town, provinces, etc., upon which tho missionary was able to give precise information. Joseph Bischofs, a missionary of the Pallotiner congregation, Limburg, Prussia, resident in the north-west of Australia at Broome, replied that ho had boon nino years in Australia. Asked if he was prepared to answer inquiries confidentially, tho missionary stated that, as far as ho could find time, he would be pleased to placo himself at (the society's disposal. Inert come minute replies to questions about stock, fruit, cultivation, and wages generally, and also.about pearl fishing. An important question was if tho missionary could send any kind of photographs, and to this the reply was "Perhaps later." I hero was a German club, the missionary stated, at Frcmantle, and there were several German hotels in Perth and Fremantle, the tariff being indicated. "Aro there correct maps of your town, your country, province, etc.?" Tho missionary's reply to this question was that tho best charts of the coast could bo obtained from tho harbour and light department, Fremantle, whilst maps of tho country generally wore obtainable from tho Department of Lands and Surveys at Perth. In all, 50 questions were answered, all treating in tho most intimate manner .of the physical and commercial facts of the districts in which the missionary resided. To each question full replies woro given. This report was dated July 10, 1914. It appears that,in an incautious moment, long before tho war, according to information in possession of the Defence Department, a German, representative in Australia remarked to an Australian officer that Australia was making very little use of the north-west coast of Western Australia, and that it would suit admirably as a Gexman settlement. The report, of which' extracts aro no-J7 published, clearly indicates, that steps were taken subsequently to this conversation by tho German Government to supplement the information already in its possession about tho north-west coast. Other information in -possession of tho Australian authorities indicates that tho doings of Australian business mon were followed in the closest details. A voting business man who, previous to the war, was about to visit tho "United Kingdom received a note from tho German representative offering him introductions to German firms. In spito of a reply that ho did not expect to visit Germany, letters of introduction were sent to him. In duo course, the business man reached England. He did not communicate with tho firms to which he had letters, but they evidently knew his whereabouts, and wrote inviting him to call. He replied ho was not visiting Germany. At tho last moment, however, he changed his route, and spent a night' at a town on the Rhine near which were tho works of one of the firms which had written to him. He had forgotten all about this firm, but within an hour of arriving a member of tho firm called at his hotel, thus proving conclusively that his movements since landing in England had been closely followed. It is known to the Australian authorities that tho local offices of great companies, such as thoso interested in metals, potash, etc., were agencies for collecting and sending to Germany information of Australian resources. A great steamship company was for intelligence -purposss nothing else than a branch of the German Admiralty. Some of tho German schools in Australia were, it has been ascertained by the Commonwealth authorities, used in connection with granting of exemption from service in the German army. In tho various centres an official representative of the German Consul-general in Sydney was appointed. In one case tho representative was a pastor, a member of a branch of tho Prussian National Church, who,, with other pastors of his church, received part of his stipend from Germany. This man, an Australian by birth, although of German parentage, was interned after the outbreak of war, and in his .possession wcro found many treasonable documents.

The German press organisation has been found to bo most accurate in sending to Germans and persons of German descent in Australia news favourable to the enemy cause. From Holland. Switzerland, and America leaflets and publications continue to arrive, usually in English, in which, under cover, of neutrality, pro-German views are expressed. Enemy agents abroad are making constant efforts to send news and messages surreptitiously to prisoners of war interned in Australia. A packet of cigarettes addressed to a prisoner, opened by chance, was found to contain nine cigarettes of tobacco and one of rolled newspaper cuttings. A largo packet of cigars from the Philippines contained boxes of excellent Manila cigars, but in one box the cigars were all of paper. A box of walnuts came from Java; when the censor opened it; one fell out and broke, disclosing that the inside had been taken out and the. shell stuffed with paper cuttings. All the others wore then cracked,- and in all of them were newspaper cuttings. Apart from those devices, letters and newspapers which appear to contain nothing but what is visible are used for writing in an invisible medium, the secret of which is known to the receiver. Probably the censors know as much of these devices as the prisoners. In one district a German agent, after the outbreak of war, endeavoured to organise the Gorman population in readiness for military operations. He interviewed tho Germans in their own houses, n.nd in some cases interviewed congregations- as they wero leaving church. He met with little success, but a few received him ' favourably. The Defence Department was well informed of what was going on, and he and those -who were ready to help him are all safe behind tho wires.

Yet ar.othcr striking example of Hun duplicity is furnished in a circular issued bv He-rr von Putt Ivamer, a German Minister of tho Interior, tc secret service agents in January, 1914, of which the following is an excel; tiTinslation:—.

" Our agents at fixed posts must not content themselves with holding salaried positions; thoy might lose smoh. positions at any moment. Each one must bo obliged to keep some kind 1 of office. Whatever tho nature of tho establishment, whether it is a disputed claims office or land and property agency, grocery, establishment or cafe, restaurant, hotel, insurance offico, or the like, in all cases tho business must be soundly established and possess a -eubstantial goodwill. It must, in fact, bo ever borno in mind that it is necessary for our agents to inspire confidence in circles where they havo their centro of action, and to create that confidence by the outward signs of an ordinary middle-class existence; indeed, by making themselves known in all kinds of societies, associations, and communities, they irpust acquire such a strong social position that, as far as their locality is concerned, each may bo well received everywhere and highly thought of in all quarters, and may be thus always in a position to give us useful information on all points."

"There has been considerable talk lately about tho running of race trains," stated the Hon. W. D. S. Mac Donald at Masterton on Monday last, "Well, I havo been racing for 32 years. I own horses—in fact, I was represented at tho Tauherenikau meeting. I havo not seen my horses race for about two years. Racing has never dono mo any injury or caused mo any loss. But it is not an essential industry, neither is it profitablo to some. Everyone is of opinion that luxuries and non-essential luxuries must go, and our wholo attention given to the essential industries. Right on top of tho essential industries arc agricultural pursuits. Tho Government will organise labour and hole tho produccra/'